Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Hepatic Artery Resistance Index as a Prognostic Marker in Liver Cirrhosis: A Case-Control Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Bizhan Ahmadi 1, 2
Faezeh Bagheri 3
Ahmad Enhesari 3, 4
Sarir Nazemi 3
Motahareh Zaherara 5, 6

1 Department of Gastroenterology, Afzalipour Hospital, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

2 Clinical Research Unit, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

3 Department of Radiology, Afzalipour Hospital, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

4 Physiology Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

5 Department of Medical Basic Sciences, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran

6 Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

https://doi.org/10.34172/jkmu.4237
Abstract
Introduction: Liver cirrhosis poses significant prognostic challenges, necessitating non-invasive tools like the hepatic artery resistance index (HARI) to assess disease severity. This study evaluated HARI’s prognostic utility among cirrhotic patients in Iran.
Methods: In a case–control study conducted at Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Iran, in 2021, 25 patients with liver cirrhosis and 25 healthy controls were enrolled. We measured HARI, pulsatility index (PI), and peak systolic velocity (PSV) by Doppler ultrasound. Laboratory parameters (albumin, creatinine, INR, prothrombin time) and prognostic scores (Child-Pugh, MELD) were assessed. Data were analyzed using t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlations in SPSS version 25 (P < 0.05).
Results: Cirrhotic patients exhibited significantly higher HARI (0.81 ± 0.10 vs. 0.44 ± 0.10, P < 0.001), PI (1.23 ± 0.20 vs. 1.03 ± 0.11, P < 0.001), and PSV (102.16 ± 2.54 vs. 73.88 ± 5.80 cm/s, P < 0.001) than controls. HARI increased across Child-Pugh classes (A: 0.76 ± 0.04, B: 0.81 ± 0.14, C: 0.91 ± 0.02, P = 0.002) and correlated moderately with MELD (r = 0.52, P = 0.008) and Child-Pugh scores (r = 0.48, P = 0.015). Albumin was lower (1.44 ± 0.49 vs. 3.56 ± 1.36 g/L, P = 0.002) and creatinine was higher (1.97 ± 0.97 vs. 1.24 ± 0.27 mg/dL, P = 0.013) in cases.
Conclusion: HARI is a promising non-invasive marker for cirrhosis prognosis, particularly in severe cases. Larger studies are needed to establish standardized thresholds.

Highlights

 

 Bizhan Ahmadi (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

 Faezeh Bagheri (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

 Ahmad Enhesari (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

 Sarir Nazemi (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

 Motahareh Zaherara (Google Scholar) (PubMed)

Keywords

Liver cirrhosis
Hepatic artery resistance index
Doppler ultrasound
Child-Pugh score
MELD score
Prognosis
Non-invasive diagnostics
Subjects
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